The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-03-02
THE PRAIRIE.

Toward its construction all terranean
forces tend. Land. like water seeks a
level. Looking seward, we can per-
ceive the plan-making forces un-
mingled with complicatng surround
ings. The Mississippis of earth are
pouring, as they have been for ages,
their freight OF soil into the waters as
if trying to rescue from the hold of
nature the submerged plateaus.
Though old ocean dashcs back the gift
and still retains most OF his captives.
yet progress is being made; and cities
stand to-day where once the iinny
tribe had their throughfares. On land
the rugged mountain lifts its awful
form for little while to the clouds,
but nsiduously, steadily, surely; the
storms which itself attracts wash it
away. Rlls and rivers dashing down
| its sides carry the detritus upon their
currents; and. in time, nature has ac-
complshed her mission-has made OF
the substance of the towering hill the
broad level prairie, needing only the
carpet of vegetation which she hastcns
to spread, to make it the choice abid-
ing-place of her highest form of fe-
| man.
With many attractions does the COM
plcted plain appeal to the mind of its
/ tenant; but most Of all with its beauty.
! The r-airie i- the embodiment of been-
| ty. Poets for centuries have loved to
/ call it IAN earth-waved sea, and TO
| sing of its ''motonless pillows and
/ "ilowery surf" and of its beauty akin
| to that of the ocean, and, like the latter
! has an element of subimty due TO the
wide range of vision and the well-nigh
perfect curve OF the horizon rim.
Storms impress us more with their
grandeur and might when we can trace
/ them over many leagues of their course.
| and the sun seems more majestic
monarch when he throws long. trem-
bling rays across the prairie's level
| disk than when cleaning among the
Graggs and cliffs of some Alpine cll
Among the many specific beauties of
the prairie | know of none more de-
| lightful than the mirage. 1t surpaSses
that of the desert or ocean rs much rs
the emerald plain which forms It's base,
eXcels in beauty the endless stretches of
sand or the gray waste of waters. 1t Is
most glorious in spring when the lus-
trous green of the slightly undulating
prairie presents its sharpest contrast
to the almost transparent blue OF the
sky. The ozone-laden air is rich with
sunlight; and blushing haze rims the
scene at the far horizon. If you are
fortunately situated, you may discern.
off to the westward, rearing its head
like an unprincipled spy above the cur
tain of haze, the purple peak of some
mountain--a misery giant, who refuses
to give his wealth of earth to the sur
rounding plain.
About mid-afternoon, when the gen
tie breeze which all day has rippled the
Young grass in soft-tintcd curves OF
green, has died away to scarcely per-
ceptblc breath, you are startled upon
looking to the southwark to see the
haze marked by bars of blue, deeper in
color if possible than the ccrulean
dome above YOU. These bars gather
into clusters and apparently approach
YOU. Then perspective opens through
the wall of haze and the clusters of bars
appear horizontal rather than vertical.
Suddenly you notice that they resemble
lakes of clear water; aph this concep-
ton once received, the vista opens
rapidly.
Trees, wharves, and bluffs rise
along the banks of your fairy sea.
The branches of the trees bend and
sway and the waters roll aud toss with
the hea. undulations of the atmosphere,
rs if moved by strong lake breeze.
Darker images soon are seen which
YOU take to be houses and are perhaps
the reflection of hamlet many miles
away. Usually the forms are so multi
piled and magnilied and the p clure so
distorted that YOU are almost ready to
believe that city lies Just before you.
In the middle distance one palace-like
form overtops its fellows. Windows
and spires, turrets and roofs shine
with n golden lights 50 far structure
has not been seen since the days OF
Aladdin. Natural objects such rs
mimic headlands or the falls Of some
prairie stream may bc'suspendcd in mid
air. The wizard reflect on has made u
new world of the one just beyond your
sight and shows it TO you by his won
dertul conjuring powers.
But the picture does no. last The
highest toweras of the palace begin TO
topplc. and give way TO the eqnal-tint-
ed haze; the lower storie, follow, the
trees become less dark. the perspect-
i've Is lost. and the vision has melted
int, thin mir Ike .sthp lasplpeg fab
ric Of dream" The breeze springs
to life again, the sun has drifted furlh-
er toward his nightly anchorage, and